Monday, 2 March 2015

The sleeping lion emerges in East Africa

Lion on conservation drive by Corne Schalkwyk as part of Premier Safaris in Uganda

We are all aware that last year was a very rough year for
the East African tour operators as a barrage of negative press hit the East
African region. This happened when Africa travel was actually at an all-time
high and cough many of us off-guard, as a massive drop-off was the last thing
east Africa was expecting. Especially the emerging destination Uganda, seen as
the “pearl” of the East Africa offerings.

Uganda in 2012 showed remarkable growth in their tourism
industry, even outgrowing major markets in Africa such as South Africa if taken
as a percentage growth for the year in 2012. Lonely planet hailed it as the
best destination for 2012. This was due to a sustained return in stability,
security and a combination of some great marketing by the private sector
investors in Uganda such as one of their larger tourism role players Marasa
Africa as part of the Madhvani group of companies.

Uganda Map www.johnstevenssafaris.com/

The country was finally on track and tourism became the
single largest income earner for this "Pearl of Africa". This was
followed by a great 2013 even throw there were worries about government
implementing new taxis on Safari accommodation and how this would affect their
forward bookings. In the case of 2013 calmer heads prevailed and government
assisted the country and held back on implementing the tax. In many ways this
assisted the private sector to invest in marketing and expansion of much needed
new product offerings.

Unfortunately 2014 turned into a bit of a horror show as government
realized the potential funds that could be generated by taxing the small yet
growing industry in this otherwise poor region and pounced on the fledgling
industry when they were in need of funds, in some respects the tourism industry
paid the price for the anti-gay bill that was introduced and then scraped in
Uganda. Government funding dried up as external forces showed their dismay with
the bill, and they made up the difference by taxing this emerging industry.

Images that emerged as part of the Anti gay bill campaign internationally

This new vat on accommodation at a hefty 18%, in turn sky-rocketed pricing and
heavily impacted on the tour operators who tried to absorb the vat where
possible to assist their clients and forward bookings into 2015. In some
respects the industry that was most outspoken about the bill and its
implications ended up paying the price of resistance.

Unfortunately this was not the end of the regions problems.
The Ebola crises hit the continent, and even throw the problem originated in
West Africa thousands of kilometres away from Uganda. It hit the country
already crippled by an anti- gay bill looming above its head and new taxes
hard.

Combined with the new increased pricing, and an unofficial
travel ban due to the gay bill in Uganda, Ebola became a last straw scenario,
almost breaking the relatively new industry. Uganda also had to deal with some
mostly irresponsible reporting on terrorism and security treats related to
possible bomb blasts.....that never took place. We know that internationally
there is an ongoing terrorism problem but east Africa didn't have the
additional scope to overcome these in 2014. Although there were isolated
threats to Uganda security in most part this was over-spill from their neighbour’s
Kenya that was battling from serious security treats and bomb blasts that
managed to bring its coastal tourism to its knees.

Premier Safaris experiential Lion conservation trip in Uganda

Mistakes and crises management from 2014, was harder to
leave behind than expected and was clearly coming to the foreground in early
2015 when there was a serious lack of forward bookings due to cancellations and
an almost unofficial travel ban to east Africa. Uganda was left with serious
concerns related to closure of some tour operators, and downsizing within the
industry. But the 2015 reality wasn't unforeseen by the larger investors such as
Marasa Africa, that also has properties within Kenya.

Marasa Africa clients #TravelToUganda campaign

By late 2014 larger private tourism investors in Uganda
began to address some of the issues in response to the fact that they noticed
that tourist sees Africa as one country, this was echoed by feedback from many
tour operators. It was clear that people didn't know where Uganda was,
especially in relation to West Africa. They also didn't know that in some cases
Europe was actually closer to the hot zone than Kenya or Uganda. And
unfortunately Uganda was also included with Kenya when it came to risk
assessment done by potential tourists as it’s a major add on to Kenya Safaris.
Marasa Africa tried to address this with an “Africa is not one continent
campaign”, while sending out images of tourists enjoying their lodges without
fear of Ebola.

Gorilla Safari experience as part of Uganda Tourism board and Marasa - Photo by Peter Hogel

For years Uganda was the Gorilla Safari add on to a Kenya
migration trip. Jinja along the Nile, was the adventure and backpacker “White
water rafting" section that can be combined with a Kenya Safari. As Uganda
started too emerged as a stand-alone destination, it still had to deal with old
perceptions and a lack of longstanding quality destination marketing.

This is starting to change and not only did the heavily
underfunded country of Uganda make it through some of the worst times East
Africa tourism has endured in recent years, it is showing signs of healing and
new re-emerging .

Murchison falls in Uganda

After having discussions with major tourism destination
marketers around the world it became clear that it was only a matter of time
and some much needed investment in specialist
skills needed to market the country, before this sleeping lion awakes. Hanna,
the owner of the internationally renowned PR and tourism marketing company KPRN
in Germany mentioned that we would be surprised as to what will happen if the
right company gets hold of this lion and wakes such a sleeping lion.

It would seem that there is a nudging at this sleeping lion
as last minute enquirers are coming in to the country and companies with good
reputations and quality guides are once again coming to life in Uganda. Even
the more skittish US market, is returning to Uganda to ensure they get a piece
of the biodiversity the country offers.

Nile delta in Uganda close to the Marasa Africa lodge Paraa Safari lodge

It’s hard to match Uganda's range of biomes and activities
and experiences elsewhere, even in east Africa. It’s long been described as the
sample board of Africa, having pieces of almost every country within Africa in
one small spot.

View over Guiding mountain from Clouds lodge used by Premier for gorilla trekking

Uganda is bound to step out, and show Africa its plumage. It
is after all the capital of Africa’s birding with a staggering more than 1000
species. This is the highest concentration of birds found in Africa (more than
50% of the total species found on the continent), and is the most accessible
place to see the legendary Shoebill.

Kazinga Channel one of Uganda's hot-spots for birding by Corne Schalkwyk

This abundance of species combined with its already well
known primate offering including the largest numbers of the critically endangered
mountain gorillas is going to be a force to deal with when it emerges from its
sleep.

Hopefully we will
once again see the old colonial safari destination that combined glaciers treks
in the Ruwenzori with great outstretched savannah safaris along the Nile and
the Kazinga channel in Uganda.

The sleeping lion is growing up and showing its teeth - Uganda Tourism by Jonothan Hen-Boisen

Kenya is also showing good recovery and it’s definitely “open
for business” as usual, 2015 might just be the year of recovery for East
Africa.

Below are some of the exciting new products emerging form Uganda about to take the industry by storm. These include Hot air balloon Safaris over the crater lakes of the rift valley from Mweya Safari lodge, Specialist programmes by Premier Safaris that made it to the list of best Bucket list Safaris for CNN travel readers in 2015 and many more experiential travel options being released this year.

Hot air Balloon Safaris over Queen Elizabeth National park with a bush breakfast from Mweya Safari lodge

Premier photographic trips led by Albie Venter - These trips include night time searches for nocturnal delights of Uganda

Intimate Gorilla with Premier and CTPH

Even the gorillas gave Uganda a thumbs up, as their numbers have been steadily increasing with the borders secured. This is an incredible success story for conservation that almost lost one of our most endangered species. The CTPH has even managed to reach the local community surrounding the gorilla sanctuaries and has reported a decrease in the human birth rates by means of an educational campaign to teach about contraception and the benefits of smaller households.

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About Me

Marketer, social media commentator and Wildlife photographer
and writer. Tourism to Africa is my
passion, and I like finding that new unique spot or experience that makes it
all worthwhile.

Originally worked and lived in South Africa and managed the
head office of EcoTraining, their camps are located in South Africa, Botswana
and Kenya. I recently took over the management (Marketing and Sales) for Marasa
Africa and Premier Safaris based in East Africa. Spend most of my time in
Uganda.